Happy Friday, everyone! With Christmas only a little over a week away, I’m sure you’re all busy but excited as I am! Have you got your holiday decorations set up? If you haven’t started on anything yet or you feel like what you have now is lacking pizzazz, here are some fun and festive holiday color ideas that will definitely light up your home this year!

Green, White, and Brown
Just looking at the combination above and you know that these mix of colors bring in the holiday cheer without looking overwhelming or tacky. It’s simple, modest, and brings in just the right balance to make anyone feel comfortable. Also try incorporating wood pieces to give that earthy, natural mood an extra kick.

Blue and White
Utilize the season’s colors and be different and sophisticated with blues and whites. In the picture above, birch logs, frosted pinecones, and branches in white ceramic vases provide the indoor winter wonderland. Accents of blue help for cool pops of color. It’s minimalistic and stunning at the same time and will definitely wow anyone who comes near your Christmas table!

Red, Cream, and White
Spice up the traditional red and green scheme by using cream or beige as the dominant color and use the reds and whites as the accents instead. This gives your holiday decor a classy boost that will surely impress your guests.

And remember–if you’re on a budget (aren’t we all?), use what you have! It’s all about the colors, not the items!

Hey everyone! How was your long weekend? I hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving! Now that December is here, I’m sure everyone is busy getting ready for the holidays. Gotta save up for those presents, right? Well, if you also happen to be considering making some decor changes before the year ends, or if you’re planning to set up some Christmas decorations, here are some tips on how to do it on a budget!

The holidays mean friends and family coming over for dinner, so what are you going to do with all that clutter if you don’t have enough storage? Invest in reupholstering furniture or add space in nooks and crannies! Being creative and inventive with a small house can do many practical wonders for you and your family.

Whoever said white was boring clearly had no idea what he was talking about! Time and time again I say that white is clean and minimalistic–the perfect color that goes with anything! Plus, it’s also a default color, so if you already have white walls to begin with, you really don’t have to worry about anything else. No need to pay up for a costly paint job! Besides, white also matches perfectly with wintertime!

But if you do feel that your room needs a bit more color, remember that there’s no need to buy new furniture or decor. In the living room above for example, the owner simply added colorful patterns to her throw pillows to bring life and contrast into the room. You can also use blankets or rugs as an alternative, all of which are cheap and definitely won’t harm your budget.

The holidays ended two weeks ago, but for some, they’re only just about to start taking down their decorations over the holidays. If you’re one of those people, you might find the following pointers useful in clearing up your home of all those Christmas decorations! Here’s a useful article I got from BHG.com.

Cleaning up after Christmas might seem like an awfully big task especially if you had lots of decorations set up in your home. You can start by setting up a 7-day plan and break down specific tasks and clearing up your home one place at a time. You can also do a quick 1-hour cleanup to focus on key problems (food stains, wine spills, dripped wax, etc.) to maximize your time.

Day 1: Give your home a general look-over. Take note of all things that need to be cleaned up. Delegate tasks among family members and split the chores.

Day 2: Focus on the windows. Clean the glass and wash the curtains.

Day 3: Bathrooms and bedrooms. Replace sheets, remove dirt and clutter from under the bed. Thoroughly clean everything, even the medicine cabinet!

Day 4: Spruce up your coat closets and cabinets. Make sure your rugs are carpets are washed or vacuumed as well.

Day 5: Focus on the kitchen. Clean your stoves and sinks. Polish surfaces. Clear out your fridge. Wipe down appliances and cabinets and take out the trash.

Day 6: Sweep out doors and entryways. Don’t forget the knobs! Also focus on wiping living room decorations such as shelves and picture frames.

Day 7: This is where you add the finishing touches to conclude your busy week of cleaning! Return post-season decorations to shelves. Fluff out your pillows. Smooth over your sheets. Congratulations and you’re done!

It’s Christmas Eve as I type this, and soon in a few hours I’ll be having a nice holiday dinner with my family! Just thought I’d drop by to greet everyone a very Merry Christmas! I hope you’re all staying warm and cozy with the company of family, friends, and good food this season! May 2013 bring everyone more blessings! It may be a bitter time for some with the shooting tragedy in Newtown and the aftermath of hurricane Sandy, but I have nothing but high hopes that the next year will be great for everyone!

Anyway, I just thought I’d share with you guys a few pictures of Christmas over here in West Virginia to give you guys an idea of how things look like in my state!

This picture was taken in Babcock State Park in Glade Creek, WV. I just love how log cabins look so inviting along with snow-capped trees during the winter time!

The beautiful West Virginia Capitol in Charleston, WV. The decoration is simple, but the Christmas tree sure does look amazing at night!

The tree used above is West Virginia fir! It’s a popular choice for Christmas trees. I bet you thought for a second that was my living room! Haha, I wish!

Winter can get pretty chilly here in the Eastern Panhandle (44 to 27 F/6 to -3 C), but the snow scenery is great and makes for a lovely, fitting backdrop during Christmastime. What better way to spend the holidays than with chestnuts roasting on an open fire, am I right?